Incinerator

ABSTRACT

An industrial and commercial incinerator designed for easy waste charging and quick residue removal. The incinerator is comprised of five chambers to provide maximum incineration coupled with a high degree of turbulence through a tortuous path and change in velocity to insure maximum deposition of solid residues to minimize air pollution. The five chambers are comprised of a main burning chamber, a second combustion chamber, a third uppass or settling chamber, a fourth combustion chamber, and a fifth uppass chamber. Flame ports utilizing checkered brick work minimize stratification and enhance turbulence for maximum mixing. Right angle turns are provided between the chambers to effect turbulence and different dimensions of the chambers are provided for change of velocity to maximum settling. Curtain walls and flame ports are provided at different elevations which when coupled with the change of direction between the chambers provides the tortuous path. Afterburners may be employed in the second and fourth combustion chambers for maximum combustion.

United States Patent [191 Gunn [ INCINERATOR Nathaniel I. Gunn, Springfield, Mo.

[73] Ass 'ignee: Federal Enterprises Inc.,

Springfield, Mo.-

[22] Filed: Aug. 3, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 277,784

[75] Inventor:

3,495,555 2/1970 Boyd et al. 110/8 R Primary Examiner-Kenneth W. Sprague Assistant Examiner -Larry I. Schwartz Attorney, Agent, or FirmGlenn K. Robbins Apr. 16, 1974 [5 7] ABSTRACT An industrial and commercial incinerator designed for easy waste charging and quick residue removal. The incinerator is comprised of five chambers to provide maximum incineration coupled with a high degree of turbulence through a tortuous path and change in velocity to insure maximum deposition of solid residues to minimize air pollution. The five chambers are comprised of a main burning chamber, a second combustion chamber, a third uppass or settling chamber, a fourth combustion chamber, and a fifth uppass chamber. Flame ports utilizing checkered brick work minimize Stratification and enhance turbulence for maximum mixing. Right angle turns are provided between the chambers to effect turbulence and different dimensions of the chambers are provided for change of velocity to maximum settling. Curtain wallsand flame ports are provided at different elevations which when coupled with the change of direction between the chambers provides the tortuous path. Afterburners may be employed in the second and fourth combus tion chambers for maximum combustion.

6 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures SHEET 1 BF 2 PATENTEUAPR 16 I974 INCINERATOR SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION By means of this invention there has been provided an incinerator for industrial use which minimizes objectional smoke, odor, and fly-ash to meet with air pollution codes. Through the design of the incinerator,-five chambers are employed to increase retention time to provide horizontal and vertical directional changes for settling uncombusted materials through centrifugal forces. Different size chambers are employed for settling of light noncombustible particulate matters. A maximum mixing of combustibles by the use of afterburners and preheat air is insured. Checkered work providing a lattice work type of opening is employed in the flame ports to expose the combustion gases closely to the hot refractory checker work and also to create turbulence in the combustion gases entering the combustion chambers to prevent stratification. Impingement of the larger particles on the hot refractory is also provided to maximize settling. Preheated air is employed in the downstream chambers also to avoid quenching the combustion products and enhance complete incineration.

The incinerator of this invention utilizes five chambers to effect the above described features. The chambers comprise a main burning chamber communicating with a second smaller combustion chamber through an elevated flame. port. This chamber may be provided with an afterburner for further combustion. The second chamber communicates with a larger uppass or settling chamber through a lower opening in a curtain wall where the velocity is decreased. Turbulence is effected between the second and third chambers by locating the opening in the curtain wall at a 90 angle with regard to the flame port opening. Communication is effected between the third uppass chamber to a smaller fourth combustion chamber through an elevated flame port. In the fourth combustion chamber as in the second combustion chamber afterburners may be employed for further incineration of combustibles. An elevated flame port is also employed between the third and fourth chambers which is located at 90 with regard to the opening in the curtain wall communicating the second and third chambers. A lower opening in a curtain wall communicates the fourth chamber with a fifth uppass chamber which is of a larger capacity to provide for settling of noncombustibles. A stack is connected to the fifth chamber to provide proper draft and removal of exhaust gases to the atmosphere.

The incinerator with the five chambers is so designed that the three right angle turns communicate the second and third chamber in tandem with a fourth and fifth chambers for utilization of space and to effect the maximum degree of turbulence and change in direction. The incinerator is constructed as a package unit and can be placed in any desirable locality. It is constructed of steel angled beams, channels, and exterior steel panels to provide a strong rugged integral unit which can be shipped from one place to another and installed in a minimum of time with operation by relatively unskilled personel. The above features are objects of this invention and further objects will appear in the detailed description which follows and will be otherwise apparent to those skilled in the art.

For the purpose of illustration of this invention there is shown in accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof. It is to be understood that these drawings are for the purpose of example only and that the invention is not limited thereto.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a view in front elevation of the incinerator.

FIG. 2 is a view in section taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view in vertical section taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken on the line 44 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section showing the brick checker work for the flame port.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view in vertical section taken through the center of the burner and the burning chamber wall.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The incinerator of this invention is generally designated by reference numeral 10 in FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4. It is comprised ofa housing 12 containing a main burning chamber 14 as a first chamber, a combustion chamber 16 as a second chamber, an uppass or settling chamber 18 as a third chamber,- a second combustion chamber 20 as a fourth chamber and a second uppass chamber 22 as a fifth chamber. Waste material to be incinerated is charged to the burning chamber through a vertical sliding charge door 24 and exhaust gases are exhausted to the atmosphere through a stack 26.

The housing 12 is constructed of an inner refractory lining 28 constructed offirebrick encased in a steel plate exterior 30 separated by insulating cement 32 from the firebrick. The exterior steel plate is reinforced by steel girders and the like not shown such that the entire unit is rigid and can be transported from place to place and supported upon l-beam runners 34 to rest on the ground.

The burning chamber 14is adapted to receive waste material through the charge door 24. The charge door is adapted to be raised and lowered within guide rails 35 by a conventional counterweight mechanism not shown. A grate 36 is positioned at the bottom portion of the burning chamber above a clean out door 38 for cleaning out noncombustible material. An inner duct 40 provides air necessary for combustion. A burner unit 42 best shown in FIG. 6 is connected to the side of the incinerator and communicates with the interior of the burning chamber through a burner port 44.

A flame port 46 is positioned at the upper portion of a side wall 48 of the burning chamber. This wall forms a common boundary between the first chamber and the second chamber and also between the first chamber and the third chamber in such a fashion that the second and third chambers are positioned as a pair at the side of the incinerator. A further side wall 50 separates the second and third chambers from the fourth and fifth chamber as best shown in FIG. 2. By this construction, the second. and third chambers constituting a combustion chamber and an uppass chamber are positioned in tandem with the fourth and fifth chambers constituting a further combustion chamber and uppass chamber at the side of the incinerator to provide for a maximum utilization of space efficiency.

The flame port 46 as best shown in FIG. 5 is formed at the upper rear portion of the side wall 48 and is constructed in the form of a lattice work having relatively large openings formed by refractory brick elements 52. Openings 54 in the flame port break up the flow of combustion gases and material passing from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber forming the second chamber in the series of chambers and also provide a hot surface for impingement of relatively large noncombustible fragments. The combustion gases are exposed to the hot refractory to increase the combustion efficiency in the second chamber.

The combustion chamber 16 forming the second chamber may be provided with an afterburner 56 to provide further combustion. A clean out door 58 is provided at the bottom of the chamber for clean out of settled noncombustible particulates. The second chamber is separated from the third chamber by an intermediate curtain wall 60. This curtain wall extends from the top of the incinerator housing downwardly to leave an arched curtain wall opening 62 as best shown in FIG. 3. The opening 62 communicates the second opening with the third opening and is located at right angles to the flame port 46 such that combustion gases must make a 90 turn for greater turbulence in passing into the uppass chamber 18 constituting the third chamber of the incinerator.

The third chamber 18 is of substantially twice the size of the combustion chamber 16 and the curtain wall opening 62 likewise is of substantially larger size than the flame port opening 46. Thus the velocity of gases passing through the second chamber will be reduced in the third chamber which increasesthe retention time and enhances the settling of noncombustible particulates to the floor of the uppass chamber 18.

A second flame port 64 constructed in the same fashion as the first flame port 46 communicates the third chamber 18 with the fourth chamber 20, the latter constituting a second combustion chamber. The flame port 64 is situated at right angles with respect to the curtain wall opening 62 and requires a right angle turn of the combustion gases and particulate matter passing into the fourth chamber 20. Another aferburner 66 is constructed on the side of the incinerator to provide a burner for the combustion chamber 20 as desired. The fourth chamber 20 is of approximately the same reduced size as the second chamber 16 constituting the first combustion chamber and additional turbulence and increased velocity is encountered by the combustion gases passing throughv it to the fifth chamber 22.

A second curtain wall 68 having a curtain wall opening 70 constructed in the same fashion as the aforementioned curtain wall 60 and curtain wall opening 70 communicates the fourth chamber 20. with the fifth chamber 22 as best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The fifth chamber 22 is ofapproximately the same size as the third chamber such that these two uppass'or settling chambers through their greater volume with respect to the mixing chambers provide for a decrease in velocity of the combustion gases and particulates. to enhance settling of the solid noncombustible particulates. A clean out door 72 is provided at the rear of the incinerator housing for clean out of particulates.

Air ducts 74 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to provide for admission of secondary air which is preheated for admission to the chambers. It will be understood that a conventional damper may be employed on the smoke stack with the usual automatic controls to provide for varying incineration and atmospheric conditions;

USE

The high velocity gases and particulates in passing' through the flame port encounter a high degree of turbulence because of the checker work construction. Impingement of noncombustible materials may cause a settling directly to the burning chamber grate while the gases and particulates that are passed are subjected to further combustion in the relatively small second chamber 16 through the action of the afterburner 56.

The combustion gases and entrained particulates aare then caused to be directed downwardly and at right angles with regard to the flameport through the low opening in the curtain wall for admission to the third chamber 18. The third chamber 18 of relatively larger capacity than the second chamber provides for an increase in the retention time and settling of noncombustible particulates to the floor of the incinerator due to reduction in velocity of the gases.

The entrained particulates and combustion gases thenpass upwardly to the top of the incinerator and pass through the flame port 64 into the fourth chamber 20 constituting a further mixing chamber. The flame port 64 acts in the same fashion as the first flame port 46 to create further turbulence and acts as a screen to settle some noncombustible particulates by their impingement upon the brick work forming the lattice like opening. The combustion gases in the fourth chamber 20 and any noncombusted particulates are further burned by the afterburner 66 after which the combustion gases pass through the lower curtain wall opening to the fifth and last chamber 22 and are exhausted through the stack 26. Full clean out is provided through the various clean out doors provided in the incinerator.

A greatly increased efficiency in combustion and settling of noncombustible particles is provided through' the incinerator of this invention. In the passage of the combustion gases through the five chambers three right angle turns are encountered horizontally and four right angle turns are encountered vertically. The first horizontal turn is from the right angle positioning of the flame port 46 with the curtain wall opening 62, the second is with respect to the curtain wall opening 62 and the flame port 64 and the third is with respect to the flame port 64 and the curtain wall opening 70. The rise and fall through the four vertical right angle turns in the gas flow is provided through the elevation of the elevated flame ports and the lower position of the curtain wall openings. By this relationship and the checkered or lattice work construction of the flame ports, a tortuous and turbulent path-is provided for maximumization of turbulence and in effect a centrifugal force to cause the settling of particulates. Further the increase and reduction in velocity encountered respectively between the combustion and uppass or settling chambers couple with the change in directio and turbulence favors maximum settling of the particulates with the combustion gases before evacuation through the stack 26.

The incinerator provided by this invention is in the form of a package unit that is rugged in construction and simple in operation such that it can be operated by relatively unskilled persons in the art. The efficiencies provided in its operation favor the reduction of particulates in the exhaust gases to minimize air pollution in the surrounding atmosphere.

Various changes and modifications may be made within this invention as will be apparent to those skilled in the art such changes and modifications are within the scope and teaching of this invention as defined by the claims appended hereto. direction What is claimed is:

I. An incinerator for incinerating industrial and commercial waste and providing maximum settling of particulates prior to release of waste gases to the atmosphere, saidincinerator comprising a main burning chamber and a series of further combustion and uppass chambers connected to provide a tortous and turbulent gas passage through a multiplicity of right angle turns, said series of combustion and uppass chambers further providing a series of alternate increase and reduction in velocity of the gases passing through said chambers, said series of chambers comprising a first pair of combustion and uppass chambers connected at one side of the burning chamber in series with a common wall separating the burning chamber from said first pair of chambers, and a second pair of combustion and uppass chambers connected in tandem with said first pair of chambers with a common wall separating the first andsecond pairs of chambers, the combustion chambers having a smaller volume than the volume of the uppass chambers to provide an alternating change in velocity of the gases passing through the chambers.

2. The incinerator of claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passage from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber in said first pair of chambers, a curtain wall opening provides a passage form said combustion chamber to the uppass chamber in said first pair, a second flame port provides a passage between said uppass chamber of the first pair and the combustion chamber in said second pair of chambers and a curtain wall opening provides a passage between said last named combustion chamber and the uppass chamber in said second pair of chambers.

3. The incinerator in claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passageway into said combustion chamber, said flame port being constructed of refractory checker work to provide a lattice opening to increase gas turbulence and minimize stratification and an impingement screen to promote settling of particulates.

4. The incinerator of claim 2 in which the flame ports are at an elevated position and the curtain wall openings are at the bottom portion of the incinerator to provide a vertical undulating path. V

5. The incinerator of claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passage from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber in said first pair of chambers, a curtain wall opening provides a passage from said combustion chamber to the uppass chamber in said first 4 pair, a second flame port provides'a passage between said uppass chamber of the first pair and the combustion chamber in said second pair of chambers and a curtain wall opening provides a passage between said last named combustion chamber and the uppass chamber in said second pair of chambers.

' 6. The incinerator in claim 1 in which boundary walls providing openings between the burning chamber and the combustion chamber in the first pair of chambers and said combustion chamber and the associated uppass chamber are located 'at right angles with respect to one another, a boundary wall providing an opening between the uppass chamber of the first pair of chambers and the combustion chamber of the second pair of chambers is located at right angles with respect to the boundary wall opening between the first pair of combustion and uppass chambers and a further boundary wall providing an opening between the combustion and uppass chambers of the second pairof chambers is located at right angles with respect to the last mentioned boundary wall opening to provide at least three right angle changes in direction of the gases and particulate matters passing through said chambers. 

1. An incinerator for incinerating industrial and commercial waste and providing maximum settling of particulAtes prior to release of waste gases to the atmosphere, said incinerator comprising a main burning chamber and a series of further combustion and uppass chambers connected to provide a tortous and turbulent gas passage through a multiplicity of right angle turns, said series of combustion and uppass chambers further providing a series of alternate increase and reduction in velocity of the gases passing through said chambers, said series of chambers comprising a first pair of combustion and uppass chambers connected at one side of the burning chamber in series with a common wall separating the burning chamber from said first pair of chambers, and a second pair of combustion and uppass chambers connected in tandem with said first pair of chambers with a common wall separating the first and second pairs of chambers, the combustion chambers having a smaller volume than the volume of the uppass chambers to provide an alternating change in velocity of the gases passing through the chambers.
 2. The incinerator of claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passage from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber in said first pair of chambers, a curtain wall opening provides a passage form said combustion chamber to the uppass chamber in said first pair, a second flame port provides a passage between said uppass chamber of the first pair and the combustion chamber in said second pair of chambers and a curtain wall opening provides a passage between said last named combustion chamber and the uppass chamber in said second pair of chambers.
 3. The incinerator in claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passageway into said combustion chamber, said flame port being constructed of refractory checker work to provide a lattice opening to increase gas turbulence and minimize stratification and an impingement screen to promote settling of particulates.
 4. The incinerator of claim 2 in which the flame ports are at an elevated position and the curtain wall openings are at the bottom portion of the incinerator to provide a vertical undulating path.
 5. The incinerator of claim 1 in which a flame port provides a passage from the burning chamber to the combustion chamber in said first pair of chambers, a curtain wall opening provides a passage from said combustion chamber to the uppass chamber in said first pair, a second flame port provides a passage between said uppass chamber of the first pair and the combustion chamber in said second pair of chambers and a curtain wall opening provides a passage between said last named combustion chamber and the uppass chamber in said second pair of chambers.
 6. The incinerator in claim 1 in which boundary walls providing openings between the burning chamber and the combustion chamber in the first pair of chambers and said combustion chamber and the associated uppass chamber are located at right angles with respect to one another, a boundary wall providing an opening between the uppass chamber of the first pair of chambers and the combustion chamber of the second pair of chambers is located at right angles with respect to the boundary wall opening between the first pair of combustion and uppass chambers and a further boundary wall providing an opening between the combustion and uppass chambers of the second pair of chambers is located at right angles with respect to the last mentioned boundary wall opening to provide at least three right angle changes in direction of the gases and particulate matters passing through said chambers. 